Table of contents:
- Dialysis side effects you need to know about
- 1. Blood pressure decreases
- 2. Itchy skin
- 3. Muscle cramps
- So, how do you deal with excessive thirst in kidney disease patients?
Dialysis is done to replace kidney function that is not functioning properly in patients with kidney disease. Although it brings benefits, it should be noted that there are a number of side effects of dialysis that need to be watched out for. What are the side effects of dialysis and how to deal with it?
Dialysis side effects you need to know about
Patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease or people who lose kidney function more than 85 percent are obliged to undergo dialysis to avoid various complications. Including the buildup of toxins, metabolic waste substances, and excess fluid in the body.
Dialysis or dialysis is divided into two, namely hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Generally, the side effects of dialysis are prolonged weakness and thirst due to fluid restrictions. However, each dialysis has different side effects of dialysis.
In the hemodialysis dialysis method, dialysis can only be done in the hospital and can be done up to three times a week. As reported by the National Health Service, side effects of dialysis include:
1. Blood pressure decreases
Decreased blood pressure (hypotension) is one of the most common side effects of hemodialysis. This is caused by decreased fluid levels in the body during the dialysis process. Low blood pressure can cause nausea and dizziness.
The best way to minimize these symptoms is to maintain the daily requirement of fluid intake recommended by your doctor. If symptoms persist, you should immediately consult the dialysis team at the local hospital because the amount of fluid during dialysis can be adjusted immediately.
2. Itchy skin
The presence of phosphorus buildup due to hemodialysis can cause the skin to itch. This condition is common but to prevent or relieve symptoms of itchy skin, you may need to follow a special diet and consume phosphate binders regularly as directed by your doctor.
3. Muscle cramps
Although the cause is unclear, muscle cramps during hemodialysis can usually occur. Warming up or applying warm compresses to the area, can be done to help improve blood circulation and reduce muscle cramps that are felt.
So, how do you deal with excessive thirst in kidney disease patients?
- Eat fruits and vegetables according to the amount determined by the doctor in daily diet planning, because in hemodialysis patients with high potassium levels, vegetables and fruit must also be measured and processed in a certain way.
- Plan and distribute the fluids that will be consumed in a day, for example, if it is limited to 1000 ml / day it can be divided into 6 drinks with the division: breakfast about 150 ml, snack morning 100 ml, lunch 250 ml, snack afternoon 100 ml, dinner 150 ml, and snack evening 100 ml. The remaining 150 ml is obtained from food, in the form of vegetables, fruits, soups, snack, and so forth.
- Drink liquids that have been cooled or iced to help create a cool taste in the mouth. However, the amount of ice that is put in must be taken into account as the amount of liquid consumed.
- When taking medicine use a little water. It is better if the medicine is taken after eating, so that the amount of fluid that has been planned at the time of eating is also used enough to take the medicine.
- Use a small glass when drinking.
- Ask the treating doctor whether the drugs given will cause side effects in the form of dry mouth.
- To reduce dryness in the mouth, brush your teeth, rinse your mouth (using a bottle filled with cold water mixed with leaves mint and given on a basis spray, where the amount of fluid used is still taken into account in the amount of liquid consumed), suck on candy with a lemon flavor (lemon stimulates saliva so it helps with dry mouth).
- Try to always be in a place that is cool enough, not lingering in a place where the air is hot.
- Exchange experiences with other patients in order to find other ways how to overcome thirst, support each other and help increase discipline when thirst arises.
- Pay attention to some foods that still have to be taken into account in the amount of liquid consumed (basically any food that is liquid at room temperature) such as: coffee, tea, gelatin, ice cubes, ice cream, juice, soda, milk, sorbets, soups, vegetables and fruit, with a lot of water content (such as watermelon, melon, pumpkin, tomato, pear, apple, carrot, pineapple, cucumber, etc.).
- Examples of vegetables and fruits whose water content is negligible include: cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cherries, blueberries, prunes, eggplant, lettuce, celery, and so on.
The side effects of dialysis vary from person to person. However, this action is considered important in patients with kidney disease, to help replace kidney function so that metabolism can run properly. Consult a doctor regularly to maintain a healthy body during dialysis and get proper and effective treatment for side effects of dialysis.
